This month has kind of been a survival mode mentality. With COVID, quarantines, frigid temps and three children in my house under 4…I need inside activities to keep my kids from fighting with each other every second.

I feel like they have only been to school a few times, so I am chalking up this month to just all being home together. Now, some moments I want to pull my hair out. But, then the very next minute I love it. I feel like that is just a normal day with little ones, don’t you? Because one second they are peacefully playing and it’s so cute I could cry. Then, the next minute they are literally dragging each other across the room by the arm.

SOOOO here are my top ideas for winter activities! This is geared toward toddlers. My daughters are 4 years old and 2.5 years old! When all else fails, they just play games on an Amazon Fire we have or watch kids shows (my 4 year old is really into the show Polly Pocket).

This is also basically a list of what we have been doing inside all month long…

1. Cardboard Play House

This house is so fun! If you google “cardboard play houses” a lot of choices will come up. My mom friend Jeannie, who gave me this idea, got her house at Target, but they did not have it anymore, so I got this castle on Amazon. We have kept it in the living room and they play in it, color on it and otherwise it’s just a fun thing to spice up an ordinary day. Plus, it’s cardboard, so easy to set up and then take down when you don’t want it anymore!

2. Homemade Playdough

Homemade playdough used to scare me. Something those mom’s that do it all must do, not me. But when my daughter was quarantined for a week at home for the first time this fall, the teacher sent us home with this recipe and I have made it so many times since! It’s actually not hard. Do it once and then you’ll get better and better at it!

You can get the playdough recipe HERE. We make one or two colors and then I let them roll it out and use cookie cutters to make different shapes. I then just store it in a bag for about a week, so they can play with it each day. I usually toss when it gets dirty, or they just are not into it anymore.

3. Cookie Decorating Kits

We have a sweet tooth over here, and my girls will literally do ANYTHING that involves sugar and sprinkles. Cookie decorating kits are always a HUGE success! Especially my 4 year old!

You can get some fun decorating kits at Target and Walmart. Or look at someone local around you that may do them. We got one from The Adored Board in St. Louis. Some local bakers also offer them before holidays, like Valentine’s Day! Etsy has some fun ones, too! We also did this Valentine’s Day House from Target that was super fun.

I found these fun sprinkles at Target!

4. Chunkies Paint Sticks + Art Paper

I am a BIG fan of these Chunkies paint sticks. The colors are so vivid and not messy like paint would be! It’s like a super vibrant crayon. Both my girls love these. We usually get at Honeycomb, a local kids store in St. Louis.

Have a pad of paper, too. So they can easily rip out paper to paint on. Another idea is to take rocks from outside and decorate them. Or wooden items like hearts for Valentine’s Day.

5. Tumbling Gym Mat

My 4 year old is super into tumbling. We found this mat at IKEA and we set it up in the basement in their playroom or gym area. At night we will pretend she is at tumbling class and she practices! We do it after George goes to bed and she has really looked forward to going to the basement each night!

6. Puppet Shows Stage

My sister lent us a puppet show stage and it’s so fun! It folds right up so you can take out if you are in need of something to do. Here is one similar to the one we have.

I hope some of those ideas help! Some days it all goes mostly well and we have a fun day. Other days, like today, they watch a lot of TV. And you know what. THAT IS OKAY.

And if the weather is nice, we WALK! I swear that helps the soul and mood so much. We will pack them all up and walk around the neighborhood.

Oh and I cannot forget I have a 1 year old boy, George. But if you notice, I don’t have any ideas that keep him entertained because he just is always on the move. When he isn’t napping, he is either eating in his high chair or crawling everywhere and getting into everything!

Stay healthy, safe + sane, my friends!!!

xx,

Anna